Houston Astros open spring training among World Series favorites

Published 5:51 pm, Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Photo: Pat Sullivan /Associated Press

Image 1of/13

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 13

Houston Astros’ Colby Rasmus celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Kansas City Royals in the seventh inning during Game 4 of American League Division Series on Oct. 12, 2015, in Houston.

Houston Astros’ Colby Rasmus celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Kansas City Royals in the seventh inning during Game 4 of American League Division Series on Oct. 12, 2015, in Houston.

Photo: Pat Sullivan /Associated Press

Image 2 of 13

Houston Astros’ Colby Rasmus hits a solo home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Mo., on Oc. 9, 2015.

Houston Astros’ Colby Rasmus hits a solo home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Mo., on Oc. 9, 2015.

Photo: Orlin Wagner /Associated Press

Image 3 of 13

Houston Astros left fielder Colby Rasmus catches a fly ball by Kansas City Royals’ Kendrys Morales at the wall during the second inning of Game 5 of the American League Division Series at Kauffman Stadium on Oct. 14, 2015, in Kansas City. less

Houston Astros left fielder Colby Rasmus catches a fly ball by Kansas City Royals’ Kendrys Morales at the wall during the second inning of Game 5 of the American League Division Series at Kauffman Stadium on ... more

Photo: Karen Warren /Chronicle

Image 4 of 13

Houston Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel works in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals during Game 5 of the ALDS on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won, 7-2, to eliminate the Astros. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS) less

Houston Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel works in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals during Game 5 of the ALDS on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won, ... more

Photo: John Sleezer, MBR / McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Image 5 of 13

Houston Astros relief pitcher Tony Sipp walks off the mound after getting taken out of the game in the seveth inning of Game 5 in baseball's American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) less

Houston Astros relief pitcher Tony Sipp walks off the mound after getting taken out of the game in the seveth inning of Game 5 in baseball's American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals, ... more

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve and shortstop Carlos Correa embrace after the final out of their shutout victory over the Yankees. It was Houston’s first playoff game since 2005.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve and shortstop Carlos Correa embrace after the final out of their shutout victory over the Yankees. It was Houston’s first playoff game since 2005.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

Image 8 of 13

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) and Houston Astros left fielder Colby Rasmus (28) celebrate the Astros 3-0 win over the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card game at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, in New York. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) less

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) and Houston Astros left fielder Colby Rasmus (28) celebrate the Astros 3-0 win over the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card game at Yankee Stadium on ... more

Photo: Karen Warren, Staff / Houston Chronicle

Image 9 of 13

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 06: Jose Altuve #27 and Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros celebrate defeating the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium on October 6, 2015 in New York City. The Astros defeated the Yankees with a score of 3 to 0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) less

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 06: Jose Altuve #27 and Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros celebrate defeating the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium on October 6, 2015 in New ... more

Photo: Elsa, Staff / Getty Images

Image 10 of 13

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa fields a ground ball against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks defeated the Astros 5-3. less

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa fields a ground ball against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks defeated the Astros ... more

Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch, right, speaks to Jose Altuve, left, and the team during a celebration of their AL wild card playoff berth despite losing 5-3 to the Arizona Diamondbacks during a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. less

Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch, right, speaks to Jose Altuve, left, and the team during a celebration of their AL wild card playoff berth despite losing 5-3 to the Arizona Diamondbacks during a baseball ... more

Photo: Ralph Freso /Associated Press

Image 13 of 13

Houston Astros open spring training among World Series favorites

1 / 13

Back to Gallery

After a nine year postseason absence, the Houston Astros made a run to the American League Division Series in 2015, losing in five games to the eventual World Series champion Kansas City Royals.

It was a fun ride, but it may have just been the beginning.

Vegas oddsmakers like Houston's chances of improving upon last year's somewhat unexpected run, as indicated by the Astros' 10-1 odds to win the World Series, according to the WestGate Superbook.

The Chicago Cubs are overwhelming favorites at 4-1, but behind that it's a bit of a cluster, with Houston next and five teams listed at 12-1.

Expectations are high for a Houston core consisting almost entirely of players under the age of 30, including 21-year-old wunderkind Carlos Correa, last year's American League Rookie of the Year.

Houston's pitching staff, led by AL Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel and bolstered by Collin McHugh, Lance McCullers and the newly acquired Doug Fister makes the Astros one of the more balanced teams chasing a ring this season.

With an eccentric lineup full of mashers, speedsters and once and future prodigies, the Astros look to be on the verge of something special.